Highlights Archive

The Kennedys – The Story of an American Dynasty • WXXI-TV

Explore the family’s significant influence on American politics and culture

The Kennedys – The Story of an American Dynasty airs Monday, June 9 at 9 p.m. on WXXI-TV and streaming live on the WXXI’s app

The Kennedys have represented glamour, power, and tragedy for decades. This fresh perspective on their iconic place in history starts from the beginning, in County Wexford, Ireland, through their early days in Boston and Hyannis Port, and into the halls of power in Washington, D.C.

Archival footage, home movies, and interviews with family members, historians, and experts provide unique access into the making of an American dynasty. By focusing on all nine siblings, not just the famous brothers, the film moves beyond major political events, revealing the intricate web of relationships, the complexities of their dynamics, and their long-lasting impact.

Photo: The Kennedy Family at the Kennedy Compound, 1931
Credit: Copyright/Public Domain

The Cozy Mysteries of Masterpiece Mystery! • WXXI-TV

Discover the secrets of the “cozy mystery” in this exploration of the genre.

The Cozy Mysteries of Masterpiece Mystery! airs Sunday, June 8 at 9:30 p.m. and streaming live and on the PBS App & WXXI app.

Go behind-the-scenes of Grantchester, Magpie Murders, Moonflower Murders, The Marlow Murder Club, and Miss Scarlet to learn what makes these mysteries so enchanting.

What is a Cozy Mystery?

There’s no strict definition for the cozy mystery, though the main rule of thumb seems to be that the story contains no graphic violence and generally, no swearing or sex. These are more lighthearted crime narratives—you won’t be so disturbed that you need to sleep with lights on. A focus on plot and character development ensures a predictable and reassuring experience offering escapism without being too heavy.

Importantly, the cozy mystery’s protagonist is an amateur sleuth who uses intellect and life experience to solve a case. Think Agatha Christie’s Miss Marple. These affable amateur detectives typically have an emotional investment behind their probing. They also know their neighbor’s quirks and habits, elicit confidences, and ultimately work out the solution before law enforcement does.

Hochstein at High Falls: Candy

Don’t miss Candy performing at Hochstein at High Falls Thursday, July 31 at 12:10 p.m.

Candy and her band perform 50s/60s traditional country music.

More about the concert series:
Hosted by Hannah Maier of The Route/WRUR 88.5, the concerts begin at 12:10 pm at **Granite Mills Park, near the Pont du Rennes bridge. **That’s right. We are back at our original location when the series first began!

Concerts take place rain or shine. In the event of inclement weather, the rain location at MCC Downtown Campus will be announced by 10:30 am on Hochstein’s website and via Hochstein’s social media. Attendees are encouraged to bring their own seating and lunch. Each performance will run approximately 40 minutes.

Parking Info: Public parking is available at the High Falls Parking Garage.

Hochstein at High Falls concerts are presented by High Falls Business Association, The Hochstein School, and The Route/WRUR 88.5. Hochstein at High Falls concerts are also made possible by a number of local organizations, including Brandtatorship, LaBella Associates, and Monroe Community College.

Hochstein at High Falls: Mountain. River. Traveler

Mountain. River. Traveler joins the Hochstein at High Falls Concert Series this summer.

This group weaves together the diverse musical traditions of China with powerful grooves and winding time signatures, creating a sound called “supercharged Chinese folk”. The group features traditional instruments – most notably the Pipa – among the standard guitar-bass-drums setup. Fresh yet familiar, traditional yet modern, Mountain · River · Traveler effortlessly breaks down musical boundaries to forge new sonic frontiers.

More about the concert series:
Hosted by Hannah Maier of The Route/WRUR 88.5, the concerts begin at 12:10 pm in the outer parking lot at 4 Commercial Street, corner of Browns Race. Please note that this is an alternate location for this summer, due to ongoing construction on the Pont du Rennes.

Concerts take place rain or shine. In the event of inclement weather, the rain location at MCC Downtown Campus will be announced by 10:30 am on Hochstein’s website and via Hochstein’s social media. Attendees are encouraged to bring their own seating and lunch. Each performance will run approximately 40 minutes.

Parking Info: Public parking is available at the High Falls Parking Garage. Please note: the lot at 4 Commercial Street and the MCC lot across the street is for permit holders only.

Photo: Mountain. River. Traveler
Provided.

Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band – No Nukes • WXXI-TV

Celebrate the 1979 “No Nukes” concerts featuring newly restored footage of Bruce’s epic performance.

Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band – No Nukes airs Friday, June 6 at 9 p.m. and streaming live and on the PBS App & WXXI app.

Witness the legendary band on the cusp of superstardom in the “No Nukes” concerts of 1979, with recovered and restored footage of their epic performance. Features live favorites “Badlands,” “The Promised Land,” “Thunder Road,” “Born to Run” and more.

Photo: Bruce Springsteen
Credit: Sony Music Entertainment

Aretha! With Sheléa and the Pacific Symphony • WXXI-TV

Celebrate the music of Aretha Franklin with this fun concert featuring vocal powerhouse Sheléa.

Aretha! With Sheléa and the Pacific Symphony airs Wednesday, June 4 at 9:30 p.m. on WXXI-TV and streaming live on the WXXI’s app

Taped on November 9, 2024, at the Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall in Costa Mesa, California, this fun-filled concert features the music of Aretha Franklin performed by vocal powerhouse Sheléa. The Grammy-nominated singer performs classics including “Chain of Fools,” “Say A Little Prayer,” “Respect,” and “Natural Woman.” Emmy Award-winning Music Director Rickey Minor conducts the Pacific Symphony, and a choir of backup singers gets the audience up on their feet and dancing in the aisles.

Photo: Quilter Sheléa with Stevie Mackie
Credit: Courtesy of PBS SoCal

The Quilting Women of Gee’s Bend • WXXI-TV

Learn about the celebrated quilts made by a community of African American women in rural Alabama.

The Quilting Women of Gee’s Bend airs Monday, June 2 at 8 p.m. on WXXI-TV and streaming live on the WXXI’s app

explores how an isolated community of women in rural Alabama became respected worldwide as the creators of celebrated woven works of art. Established during enslavement, the nuanced quilting practice in Gee’s Bend was passed down from mothers to daughters for generations, surviving everything from reconstruction to Jim Crow to the Civil Rights Movement to the present day. A legacy woven by hand, the quilts have been embraced by the modern art world and featured in museums across the country, but little is known about the women who make them and the challenges they have faced.

Photo: Quilter Stella Mae Pettway
Credit: Gionatan Tecle, Seen & Held, LLC

Great Performances “Kiss Me Kate” • WXXI-TV

Experience this Cole Porter classic musical starring Tony winner Stephanie J. Block.

Great Performances “Kiss Me Kate” airs Friday, May 30 at 9 p.m. on WXXI-TV and streaming live on the WXXI app.

Enjoy this Cole Porter classic musical featuring iconic songs like “Another Op’nin’, Another Show,” “So In Love” and more. Tony winner Stephanie J. Block and Adrian Dunbar co-star in a backstage romantic comedy directed by Bartlett Sher.

Starring Tony Award winner Stephanie J. Block in her West End debut as Lilli Vanessi, this production of Cole Porter’s legendary musical comedy features classic songs including “Another Op’nin, Another Show,” “So In Love,” “Brush Up Your Shakespeare,” “Too Darn Hot” and more. Filmed from the Barbican in summer 2024, it also features multi-award-winner Adrian Dunbar as Fred Graham. Tony Award winner Bartlett Sher directs.

Photo credit: Johan Persson